Lift beam retaining means

ABSTRACT

A lifting beam for a jack of the one end lift type has slidable end sections and a latch arrangement for holding them in place to prevent accidental removal.

0 United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,740,020 Arnes June 19, 1973 4] LIFTBEAM RETAINING MEANS 3,302,927 2/l967 Gray 254/2 [75] inventor: Lyle L.Arnes, Racine, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Tenneco Inc., Racine, Wis. Primary Examirier-Othell M.Simpson Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson 22 1 1 7 I t l 1 Fl ed June1 19 I Attorney-J. Kmg Harness, Paul F. Snebald, John V. [211 App]. No.:152,220 Sobegky et a].

52 us. Cl. 254/134, 254/2 B 1 [51] Int. Cl B66f 3/00 [571 ABSTRACT [58]Field of Search 254/2 B, 2 R, 7 B,

254/7 R, 133, 134 A lifting beam for a jack of the one and lift type hasslidable end sections and a latch. arrangement for hold- [56] ReferencesCited ing them in place to prevent accidental removal.

UNITED STATES PATENTS V 15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,867,409 l/l959Southerwick 254/2 B 7 2 4 viw 4;

n 4/ If /7 j 27 2) 17 1/ j J I LIFT BEAM RETAINING MEANS BRIEF SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION It is the purpose of the invention to provide a liftingbeam for a jack which has adjustable sections that may not beinadvertently removed.

. The invention accomplishes this purpose by means of a beam structurewhich includes a center beam section that is open on at least one end toslidably receive a beam end section that is adapted to engage the objectto be lifted. The center beam section includes a latch means forengagement with the end beam section to prevent its accidental removal.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic typeone end lifting jack having a lifting carriage with a lifting beamstructure embodying the invention, the beam structure being shown inexploded position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a lifting beam structure ofFIG. 1 with the fixed beam and saddle elements omitted; and

FIG. 3 is a partial section and front elevation of the lifting beamstructure of FIG. 1 showing the parts in operative latched position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The one end lift type jack 1 of FIG. 1 hasa vertical column section 3 and a base section 5 which is secured to thebottom of the column and which includesa pair of rear wheels 7 and afront caster wheel means 9 to render the base 5 movable. The column 3carries a lifting carriage structure 11 for vertical movement, suchmovement being powered by suitable means such as an air operatedmechanism as indicated by the air tank 13 forming a part of the column3. The carriage 11 includes a lift beam structure 15 that has a centralhollow beam member 17 that is fixed in position on the carriage andhorizontally disposed so that it will move in a vertical path when thecarriage 11 is furnished with lifting power.

As is evident in the drawings, the beam section 17 is tubular andrectangular in cross section, preferably being square in cross section,whereby it has open ends 19. The beam structure 19 also includes a pairof end beam sections 21 and 23 which comprises horizontal beam elements25 and 27 which are'tubular and of the same shape as the beam 17 butsmall enough in cross section so that they slidably fit inside of thebeam 17 when they are telescoped through the openings 19. The outer endsof the end beam sections 25 and 27 have vertical tubular saddle holdersections 29 and 31 which are preferably square in cross section and havenotches 33 in each of the end edges of the members. The members 29 and31 are rigidly secured to the ends of the end beams 25 and 27, as bywelding, but are asymmetric so that the beam sections 25 and 27 arelocated closer to one end of the saddle supports 29 and 31 than to theother. Thus, as seen in FIG. 3,,thevertical position of the top end of asaddle support29 and 31 can be easily adjusted by simply turning itupside down.

The ends of the saddle support members 29 and 31 are open andtelescopically receive square tubular sections of the saddle members 35and 37, the top portions of which carry suitably shaped pads 39 forengagement with an object, such as an automobile, to be lifted. Thesaddles 35 and 37 have a series of holes 41 extending through them andpin members 43 extend through the holes 41 and engage in the notches 33to support the saddles in any of several different vertical positionswith respect to the saddle supports 29 and 31. The saddles 35 and 37 canalso be rotated about their own cen ter line to fit in each of fourdifferent angular positions on the tops of the saddle supports 29 and31.

In order to prevent inadvertent disconnection of 'either of the end beamsections from the center beam section 15, a suitable latch or retainerstructure 45 is provided. This includes a cross pin 47 adjacent theinner end of the beam section 25 and a cross pin 49 adjacent the innerend of the beam section 27, the cross pins being nonnal to the lengthsof sections 29 and 31.

It also includes a retainer or latch plate 51 that has bent end sectionsor hooks 53 that fit over the pins as seen in FIG. 3. When so situated,the plate 5] acts as a latch that holds the pins 47 and 49inside thebeam 17 so that members 21 and 23 cannot be accidentally removed fromthe beam 17. The plate 51 is provided with a fixed guide and operatingpin 55 that extends through a suitable hole 57 in the bottom face of thebeam section 17 so that it is accessible to an operator who can, bypushing upwardly on the pin 55, disengage the latch 51 from the crosspins 47 and 49. The latch pin 55 includes a reduced diameter uppersection 59 that extends through an aperture 61 in the top side of thebeam 17 and carries a snap ring washer 63 that seats on the top of thebeam 17 to hold the latch plate 51 adjacent the midplane of the beam 17when the beam sections 25 and 27 are removed. When the beam sections areinserted, the cross pins 47 and 49 will engage the slanted end edges 53and cam the plate 5 1 upwardly until the plate drops in place andcatches the cross pin 47 or 49. It will be noted that the latch means 45is operative with either or both end members 21 and 23 and with themembers in either of two opposite vertical positions, as seen in FIG. 3.

Modifications in the specific structure illustrated may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A lifting jack comprising a column, a carriage supported on thecolumn for vertical movement, said cars riage including a fixedhorizontal tubular beam section having opposite open ends, movable endbeam sections telescoped respectively inside of the opposite ends ofsaid fixed'beam section and extending through said open ends, and latchmeans for interconnecting the movable sections and the fixed sectionsand operative to prevent movement of the movable sections out of saidopen ends, said latch means comprising a movable latch element mountedin said fixed beam section and fixed latch elements mounted in saidmovable beam sections, said movable element comprising a plate havinghooks thereon and said fixed elements comprising pins engaged by thebooks.

2. A lifting jack as set forth in claim I wherein said pins arehorizontally mounted in said movable beam sections.

3. A lifting jack as set forth in claim 2 wherein the latch plate ismounted so that the weight thereof holds it in engagement with saidlatch pins.

4. A lifting jack as set forth in claim 3 including a guide pin for saidlatch plate supported in said fixed beam section.

5. A lifting jack as set forth in claim 4 wherein said guide pin isfixed to the latch plate and movable with it 6. A lifting jack as setforth in claim 5 wherein said fixed beam section has an opening in thebottom thereof, said guide pin slidably extending through said bottomopening and being accessible outside the beam section to provide a meansfor manually lifting and disconnecting the latch.

7. A lifting jack as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fixed beamsection has an opening in the top thereof in alignment with said openingin the bottom, said guide pin slidably extending through said topopening.

8. A lifting jack comprising a column, a carriage supported on thecolumnfor vertical movement, said carriage including a fixed horizontaltubular beam section having opposite open ends, movable end beamsections telescoped respectively inside of the opposite ends of saidfixed beam section and extending through said open ends, and movablecommon latch plate means extending between and directly interconnectingthe movable sections to each other and to the fixed sections andoperative to prevent movement of the movable sections out of said openends.

9. A jack as set forth in claim 8 wherein said latch means isconstructed and arranged so that the force of gravity holds the latchmeans in latched condition.

10. A lifting jack comprising a column, a carriage supported on thecolumn for vertical movement, said carriage including a fixed beamsection having an end, a movable end beam section slidably mounted onsaid end and having a latch pin, and a movable latch memher engageablewith the latch pin for connecting the movable section to the end sectionand operative to prevent separation of the sections, yieldable meansurging the latch member to latching position, and guide means movablyconnecting the latch member to the fixed beam section for guidedmovement transverse to the direction of sliding of the movable sectionin the fixed section.

11. A jack as set forth in claim 10 wherein the latch member and thelatch pin are mounted so that the weight of the latch member providessaid yieldable means and holds it in latching engagement with the latchpin.

12. A jack as set forth in claim 11 wherein said latch member comprisesthe only obstruction to removal of the movable sections from the fixedsection so that upon overcoming the weight of the latch member themovable member may be removed from the fixed member.

13. A jack as set forth in claim 10 wherein said latch member comprisesthe only obstruction to removal of the movable section from the fixedsection so that when the member is in unlatched position the movablesection is removable from the fixed section.

14. A jack as set forth in claim 10 wherein said guide means comprises aguide pin fixed to the latch member, said fixed beam section having holemeans therein slidably receiving the guide pin.

15. A jack as set forth in claim 14 wherein said yieldable meanscomprises the weight of said latch member.

1. A lifting jack comprising a column, a carriage supported on thecolumn for vertical movement, said carriage including a fixed horizontaltubular beam section having opposite open ends, movable end beamsections telescoped respectively inside of the opposite ends of saidfixed beam section and extending through said open ends, and latch meansfor interconnecting the movable sections and the fixed sections andoperative to prevent movement of the movable sections out of said openends, said latch means comprising a movable latch element mounted insaid fixed beam section and fixed latch elements mounted in said movablebeam sections, said movable element comprising a plate having hooksthereon and said fixed elements comprising pins engaged by the hooks. 2.A lifting jack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pins arehorizontally mounted in said movable beam sections.
 3. A lifting jack asset forth in claim 2 wherein the latch plate is mounted so that theweight thereof holds it in engagement with said latch pins.
 4. A liftingjack as set forth in claim 3 including a guide pin for said latch platesupported in said fixed beam section.
 5. A lifting jack as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said guide pin is fixed to the latch plate and movablewith it.
 6. A lifting jack as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fixedbeam section has an opening in the bottom thereof, said guide pinslidably extending through said bottom opening and being accessibleoutside the beam section to provide a means for manually lifting anddisconnecting the latch.
 7. A lifting jack as set forth in claim 6wherein said fixed beam section has an opening in the top thereof inalignment with said opening in the bottom, said guide pin slidablyextending through said top opening.
 8. A lifting jack comprising acolumn, a carriage supported on the column for vertical movement, saidcarriage including a fixed horizontal tubular beam section havingopposite open ends, movable end beam sections telescoped respectivelyinside of the opposite ends of said fixeD beam section and extendingthrough said open ends, and movable common latch plate means extendingbetween and directly interconnecting the movable sections to each otherand to the fixed sections and operative to prevent movement of themovable sections out of said open ends.
 9. A jack as set forth in claim8 wherein said latch means is constructed and arranged so that the forceof gravity holds the latch means in latched condition.
 10. A liftingjack comprising a column, a carriage supported on the column forvertical movement, said carriage including a fixed beam section havingan end, a movable end beam section slidably mounted on said end andhaving a latch pin, and a movable latch member engageable with the latchpin for connecting the movable section to the end section and operativeto prevent separation of the sections, yieldable means urging the latchmember to latching position, and guide means movably connecting thelatch member to the fixed beam section for guided movement transverse tothe direction of sliding of the movable section in the fixed section.11. A jack as set forth in claim 10 wherein the latch member and thelatch pin are mounted so that the weight of the latch member providessaid yieldable means and holds it in latching engagement with the latchpin.
 12. A jack as set forth in claim 11 wherein said latch membercomprises the only obstruction to removal of the movable sections fromthe fixed section so that upon overcoming the weight of the latch memberthe movable member may be removed from the fixed member.
 13. A jack asset forth in claim 10 wherein said latch member comprises the onlyobstruction to removal of the movable section from the fixed section sothat when the member is in unlatched position the movable section isremovable from the fixed section.
 14. A jack as set forth in claim 10wherein said guide means comprises a guide pin fixed to the latchmember, said fixed beam section having hole means therein slidablyreceiving the guide pin.
 15. A jack as set forth in claim 14 whereinsaid yieldable means comprises the weight of said latch member.